Stars, Moon, and the Garden of Night
The force operating behind the Seekers is... the Church.
"What...?"
My sudden bombshell left every mouth in the room hanging open. Not that there were many people present to begin with. I quietly studied the blue eyes swimming with confusion.
In the silence that followed, the first to speak was Neria.
"That's a rather... absurd story, Young Master Lischt."
Her words carried clear disbelief. Or more accurately, something closer to What nonsense is this lunatic spouting now?
It was the reaction I had expected. The claim was far too abrupt to swallow on faith alone.
"The Church as the mastermind...? You're suddenly saying some very strange things, Young Master."
Seon, standing beside her, frowned as he stared at me. Lucy kept her mouth shut, but her expression suggested she shared their thoughts. With one exception, every gaze directed at me was steeped in rejection.
Yes. With one exception.
I turned my head slightly and met that single exception's eyes.
"......"
My gaze collided in midair with the Emperor's blue eyes, which for some reason sparkled with excitement. Surprise and interest danced across Milliam's face.
I smiled faintly to myself.
As I thought... this man had already sensed something.
Bingo.
The emperor hailed as the wisest in the Empire's long history—Milliam von Lietro. A man with eyes that pierced the world itself. I had wondered whether he might have caught the scent even now.
It seemed I was correct.
"A most intriguing tale, Young Master."
"Did Your Majesty not already know?"
"Kkkl... You speak words that could bring disaster. I have no desire for conflict with the Church."
His reply was smooth, yet he offered no denial. He had merely expressed his wish to avoid friction with the Church. In other words, the statement translated to: It is a sensitive subject, so I cannot openly comment, but I will hear you out.
It was as good as tacit approval.
"Your Majesty...?"
"Y-Your Majesty...?"
When Milliam responded that way, both Neria and Seon looked up at the throne. Paying them no mind, the Emperor stroked his chin and smiled.
"Adventure is a dangerous business. All the more so when one lacks sufficient preparation."
I had no evidence, so I could only sit on my hands. The Church is simply too vast an organization to provoke on the basis of suspicion alone.
"You are wise, Your Majesty. Stirring a hornet's nest always carries risk."
I understand. Doing so carelessly could plunge the Empire into chaos once again.
"Kkkl... I never imagined you would take interest in such matters, Young Master Lischt."
This is information only a handful within the imperial family even know. How did you come by it?
"I happened to learn it by chance, over someone's shoulder."
I learned of it during the recent attack.
"Oh? It appears you received instruction from quite the specialist."
Is the information reliable?
"I was fortunate enough to meet a capable mercenary."
Yes. I heard it directly from a high-ranking executive of the Seekers I encountered during the assault.
After we exchanged several more veiled statements, Milliam let out a small groan at my final answer. His demeanor grew serious.
"Can you take responsibility for that hypothesis?"
"I learned it while torturing the assailants I subdued during the attack. Every member's statement matched. I believe it is safe to be certain."
Of course, that was pure bullshit. The only thing I had said to those bastards was I'm going to kill you. The truth that the Church stood behind the Seekers came solely from my knowledge of the original story.
Since it was a fact anyway, it hardly mattered. Mixing one truth with one lie simply created two truths.
"It is not a story easily believed... but if your words are true, an age of great upheaval will soon dawn."
If what you say is true, a storm of blood will soon sweep across the Empire.
Milliam narrowed his eyes as he murmured. The simple act of lowering his eyelids released an indescribable charisma.
"However, Your Majesty... no matter how firmly Young Master Lischt insists, there is no evidence, is there?"
"That's right, Father! How can you believe such ridiculous nonsense?!"
"Neria, mind your manners before His Majesty."
"Why? It's true! Brother thinks exactly the same!"
Seon and Neria still clearly did not believe me. Milliam nodded as though their objections held merit.
"It is indeed an interesting topic... yet your claim lacks any foundation."
"That is correct."
"Moreover, the claim that you extracted information by torturing the members—there is no one to corroborate it but yourself, is there?"
"That is also correct."
As Milliam pointed out, my assertion was far from perfect. Proving the Church was the mastermind would be difficult. But this was enough.
This had never been about providing ironclad proof. It was about drawing aggro.
Even this much would sharpen Milliam's wariness and suspicion toward the Church like a finely honed blade.
This should count as a success.
I had successfully ignited Milliam's interest and drawn him into the game. From now on, the Church would suffer greatly, forced to play a battle of wits against the strongest intelligence character in the world. Their operations would naturally be forced to contract.
"Kkkl... It is rather impudent to treat me like a pawn on a chessboard, but the story was interesting enough that I shall overlook it."
"......"
Shit. He saw through me too.
A chill ran down my spine. Milliam waved his hand lightly, as if telling me to relax.
"No need to tense up. It was meant as a compliment."
"I am deeply honored."
"That aside... you seem quite sincere about this matter. To charge forward so aggressively."
"Is that not only natural?"
I looked straight into Milliam's eyes as I answered.
The Seekers and the Church were...
"The enemies of my mother."
Milliam's face went blank for a moment at my calm tone, then he cleared his throat belatedly as if only just remembering.
"Ahem... It seems I spoke out of turn."
"It is fine."
"I will keep your words in mind."
"I am honored."
At my curt response, Milliam gave a small chuckle.
"You truly have changed... I heard you have also put an end to that awkward delinquent behavior."
"Yes, that is correct."
"How does it feel? To have cast off the mask?"
"......It was not as refreshing as I expected. I lost far too much in the process."
As I spoke, I glanced at Lucy and Neria standing a short distance away. Both had been dazed since the middle of my exchange with Milliam. When Neria's eyes met mine, she frowned. Lucy subtly averted her gaze and turned her head.
I gave a small shrug in their direction. Milliam's lips curved into a bitter smile.
"I leave them in your care... As you know, they are good children."
"Of course."
"Do you know how devastated Lucy was when you suddenly vanished?"
"...Pardon?"
The completely unexpected remark left me dumbfounded. Milliam chuckled at my reaction.
"It was quite the scene. She shut herself in her room, refused to eat, and simply wept for a long time..."
"Y-Your Majesty!"
Lucy frantically tried to stop the flood of her dark history. Her pale cheeks had flushed bright red.
I felt a wave of confusion at the sight.
If this was right after Raiden had disappeared... barely half a year had passed. Did that mean she had still been thinking about him until recently?
Or was this simply one of Milliam's jokes...?
While I floundered in a sea of doubts, Milliam smoothly brought the conversation back on track.
"Kkkl... Well, let us speak of that another time. The discussion has wandered rather far afield. We were originally speaking of your reward."
The Emperor stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"What do you desire? I doubt the eldest son of a ducal house lacks for anything, but speak freely."
"I have something already in mind."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"I wish for the legal right to import 'Death Grass'—the herb that was banned throughout the Empire due to its severe side effects."
"Death Grass...? You mean those emotion cigarettes?"
Milliam looked puzzled by the unexpected request. I could understand his reaction.
Death Grass. Also known as emotion cigarettes. As the name suggested, it was a stick formed by blending various medicinal herbs and compressing them into a tobacco-like form. Inhaling the smoke alleviated negative mental conditions.
Thanks to that effect, it was prescribed to retired soldiers and patients suffering from mental illness. However, its serious side effects—auditory and visual hallucinations—had caused it to fall out of use. In simple terms, it was essentially a medical narcotic.
"Death Grass, you say..."
Milliam frowned, then looked at me with pity.
"It seems your mind has not yet fully recovered."
"I apologize."
"...How do you intend to deal with the side effects?"
"I have a method."
The side effects of Death Grass were hallucinations. They were intense enough to break ordinary mental strength. Most people would never touch the substance for that very reason.
But I possessed Iron Mind.
Side effects from mere medicine were something I could completely neutralize.
"Well, I suppose you will manage somehow. I grant permission."
"I am deeply grateful."
"However, you alone must consume it. Distributing the imported Death Grass within the Empire is forbidden."
"Of course."
With this, I had secured a solution for the panic states that even Iron Mind could not fully suppress.
As I bowed my head with a satisfied smile, Milliam moved to conclude the audience.
"It has grown rather late. Let us end the discussion here."
"Yes. I shall take my leave."
"Stay as long as you wish. If you require anything, speak to Bella."
"I am overwhelmed by your excessive grace."
"Kkkl... You may go."
I bowed deeply once more and stepped out of the audience chamber.
. . .
That night.
"...I can't sleep."
My mind was strangely clear. After tossing and turning in bed for what felt like ages, I finally dragged my heavy body upright. Exhaustion saturated every limb, yet sleep refused to come. Perhaps it was the unfamiliar bed. The insomnia that had been dormant seemed to have returned.
"I'm so tired..."
I let out a deep, frustrated sigh. There was nothing more aggravating than feeling sleepy yet being unable to fall asleep.
Pressing a hand to my throbbing temple, I turned toward the large window beside the bed. Bluish moonlight slipped through the glass, bathing the room in a dreamy glow.
I stared at it blankly.
The moonlight in this world was truly beautiful. Unlike the yellowish moon of my previous life, its blue hue lent everything a more mystical air.
Wishing to see the scenery outside more clearly, I rose from the bed and approached the window. The night view beyond the transparent pane was breathtaking enough to draw a soft exclamation from my lips.
"Wow..."
Beyond the terrace lay a magnificent garden. A living sanctuary where flowers of every color intertwined in perfect harmony, all of it breathing beneath the quiet moonlight.
I carefully opened the window and stepped outside. The soft grass tickled the soles of my bare feet. The cool, slightly itchy sensation made me shiver pleasantly as I walked forward.
Step... Step...
Each time my legs brushed the blades, a gentle rustling filled the air. The early-autumn wind, heavy with fragrant scents, playfully tousled my hair as it passed.
It was peaceful.
With that thought, I gently closed my eyes. How long had it been since I last enjoyed such tranquility? In both my past and present lives, there had simply been too many storms to allow for rest.
Chirp... Chirp...
As I listened to the insects singing in my ears, the fatigue and melancholy clouding my mind seemed to slowly unravel.
I opened my eyes and looked up at the sky. Against a pitch-black canvas, countless sparkling dots were embedded like jewels. A sea of stars that swept away the veil of deepest night. A million embroidered lights erasing loneliness with a million beams.
Perhaps they represented one axis of the time I had been forced to forget—the dark, hopeless days of the past.
"......"
I stood motionless in the center of the garden for a long time. Only when the unpleasant fatigue tormenting my head had receded somewhat did I turn to head back.
Just as I began walking toward the terrace...
"Young Master Lischt...?"
A familiar voice called out from behind me.